Searching for a designer can be overwhelming, especially in a vibrant metropolitan area like North Texas. One of the first steps to finding the right professional for an interior project is honing in on your personal style. Whether you love antiques and vibrant patterns or prefer a sleeker vibe, there’s an aesthetic — and a local pro — to match.
While this isn’t a comprehensive listing (the talent across the region is just too vast), read on to explore popular interior styles and some of the D-FW designers who can turn your vision into reality.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/DNGGUIO4KJBT5IZGDHMYJUQCIY.jpg)
North Texas pros to know: Lisa Henderson of Lisa Henderson Interiors | Emily Larkin of EJ Interiors | Lindley Arthur of Lindley Arthur Interiors | Laura Lee Clark Falconer of Laura Lee Clark Interior Design
Traditional homes are often regal in nature, with furniture and textiles inspired by 18th- and 19th-century design. While the style is characterized by pieces from England, France and Italy (Queen Anne chairs and Louis XVI tables, for example), you’ll find notes from Asia, too — think chinoiserie vases and porcelain garden seats. Darker woods, ornate trim details and layered textiles are cornerstones of the style.
Even though traditional interiors tend to look to the past, there are more modern interpretations that are clearly not your grandmother’s aesthetic. Designers have come up with fresh takes on the tried-and-true style, leaning toward more comfortable and inspiring rooms. Lisa Henderson of Lisa Henderson Interiors is one such pro. “I just love the way a traditional home feels: comforting, familiar and welcoming,” Henderson says. “My goal is to provide a fresh approach to traditional spaces by incorporating colorful designs, functional pieces and interesting accessories.”
One of Henderson’s signature approaches involves mixing styles as well as finds from her travels. “A room full of new furniture can feel like a showroom, but antiques should also be proportionate to a space,” Henderson explains. “I love sourcing special pieces for my clients at fairs around the world. I visited the Italian fair this fall, and I always find treasures in Paris and even Round Top that have made really unique additions to my projects.”
While designer Emily Larkin with EJ Interiors is also known for the traditional look, she tries to avoid the heaviness that sometimes comes with antiques and dark wood furnishings. “I love antique pieces, but with clean lines and without a lot of carved detail or formality to them,” Larkin says. “We incorporate a lot of antique Louis XVI commodes with marble tops, English bamboo side tables, botanical watercolor art and traditional landscape oil paintings. I am also really loving Lee Jofa’s fabric by Oscar de la Renta called ‘Upton Linen’ and just about any floral fabric or wallpaper from Cowtan & Tout.”
Designer Lindley Arthur, owner of Lindley Arthur Interiors, has a strong affinity for antiques — so much so that she owns a space at Antique Row on Lovers Lane. “I’ve always had an appreciation for pieces with age. You can’t recreate the warmth of 19th-century walnut or the patina of an original mercury glass mirror,” she says.
Arthur believes that designing with these unique pieces personalizes a space. “I have also become adamant about avoiding ‘copy and paste’ design. Each of my clients deserves to have something different. If I’ve used a fabric more than once or twice, I consider it extinct in my book. Incorporating antiques into a home makes this easy, too, because they are one of a kind,” she notes. You’ll often find clean-lined French and Italian antiques, midcentury French Jansen pieces, hand-blocked textiles, textured wallcoverings, sisal rugs, tortoiseshells, Chinese export porcelain, and art from Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden in Arthur’s personal takes on traditional design.
Even though designers may lean traditional, many still love to incorporate unexpected moments of modern or midcentury design as well. “I believe that a successful interior begins with classical architectural proportions, a mix of classic antiques to remind us where we came from but with a nod to the present,” says designer Laura Lee Clark Falconer of Laura Lee Clark Interior Design. “I achieve this by including contemporary or modern works of fine art or furnishings. When appropriate, I love introducing Asian overtones into my interiors, whether that is a wallcovering, drapery, a collection of objects or a just a pillow.”
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/O7BBTXZXOVBXJI7LPGCKV6DWD4.jpg)
North Texas pros to know: Javier Burkle of Burkle Creative | Shauna Glenn of Shauna Glenn Design | Kim Armstrong of Kim Armstrong Interior Design
This design style is characterized by layered interiors with vibrant pops of color, unexpected fabric pairings and global influences. Because there is not a formula to this aesthetic (and that’s exactly the point), it’s a tricky one to master. But designers with an eclectic bent love the look because it speaks to a client’s personality and shows off an interior that is uniquely theirs.
For some, color is the crux of eclectic style. “I had no idea that when I started down this path a decade ago that one of my main objectives was to teach people not to fear color,” says Fort Worth-based designer Shauna Glenn, owner of Shauna Glenn Design. “I’m a maximalist in every sense of the word, and use of saturated color is a real tipping point or hard stop for people. I’m trying to convince everyone that color doesn’t just belong in a kid’s playroom or the circus. You see the world in color — if you’re lucky — so why mute it once you step inside your home?” In addition to designing with bright hues, Glenn often uses patterns on patterns and black-and-white accent pieces to achieve her unique look.
Designer Javier Burkle, owner of Burkle Creative, creates spaces that are a mix of old and new, and he relies on layering techniques to create a collected, eclectic look. “From sourced antique and vintage pieces to bespoke artwork and a curated composition of textiles, I am inspired to add layers that are beautiful, functional and meaningful for each project,” he says. “Purposeful layers make all the difference between good and great design.”
Burkle’s spaces often read masculine, as he loves to design with windowpane checks, pinstripes and heavier antiques. But the designs always showcase a client’s personal mementos, too. “It results in a cozy, inviting, welcoming environment that makes you just want to linger — everything that a home should be,” he says.
Kim Armstrong’s designs are also influenced by her clients’ personal collections, heirlooms and pieces purchased from far-flung corners of the world. “For me, eclectic interiors just happen naturally because of the diverseness of people’s collections and their unique tastes,” says Armstrong, owner of Kim Armstrong Interior Design. “Most people like different elements about different styles. When you pick things based on things that you love, then that will always be in style.”
Because an eclectic interior doesn’t necessarily have a standard look or feel, a designer must have a talent for editing. “It is an art form to do this well and still make the home feel cohesive,” says Armstrong. “It’s a balance of material selections, mixing modern and traditional, adding curated pieces along with very classic and timeless items.” Armstrong often incorporates Lucite, vintage textiles, vibrant patterns and one-of-a-kind pieces to her spaces to achieve the layered look.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/FKA33ODQEBA7PDSEAVNWP7JJSY.png)
North Texas pros to know: Mil Bodron of Bodron/Fruit | Joshua Rice of Joshua Rice Design | Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs
At its core, modernism focuses on simplicity and functionality in the architectural elements, light and dimensions of a home. That means clean lines, natural materials and open floor plans. Midcentury modern, which reflects the design between the early to mid-20th century, fits into this category; modern Scandinavian design is also a part of this movement. Today’s designers often draw inspiration from renowned names such as Eames, van der Rohe, Knoll and Le Corbusier.
“In architecture school, I was introduced to the great masters of modern design, both in architecture and interior design,” says Mil Bodron, founding principal and designer with Bodron/Fruit, an architecture and design firm that has worked on many well-known modern homes in Dallas. “Ever since, I’ve continued to study the works of significant past and present designers.” Bodron’s design philosophy is centered around beautiful interiors that remain free of trends. “I am always very conscious of scale, composition and proportion of things used together in a room and of the room,” he says.
For designer Joshua Rice, owner of Joshua Rice Design, his love for the midcentury design period developed at the outset of his career. “Very early in my life, I was naturally drawn to more unusual and eclectic spaces — think late ’70s brutalism and the overall weirdness of that era — but I was fortunate to start my design career right out of college with a very sophisticated, modern architecture and design firm that worked on elite-level homes,” he says.
From there, Rice honed his own design style. “My philosophy centers around avoiding the use of ornamentation for its own sake. This principle extends to the items that inhabit the space as well. Whether it’s a piece of furniture, artwork or any object, I believe it should have a purpose for being there — be it functional, intriguing or simply beautiful,” he says.
Many modern designers are inspired by nature, much like Ginger Curtis, founder and CEO of Urbanology Designs. “The essence of our approach lies in a relaxed modern design style, characterized by a blend of organic, biophilic elements,” she says. “This affinity for nature serves as a constant inspiration, grounding our creations in a connection to the natural world.”
Curtis and her team often fuse vintage and antique pieces with modern artwork. “We take pleasure in the juxtaposition of bold architectural furniture that makes a statement alongside more minimal elements within a space. This intentional mix creates a dynamic and layered environment that reflects our philosophy of seeking the extraordinary in every detail.”
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/U2TL66P3GNEYDEEID62VNUJUGA.jpg)
North Texas pros to know: Shannon McGough of Poppy McGough Design House | Philip Vanderford of Studio Thomas James | Christina Garcia Lysaught of Layered Dimensions Interior Design
Can’t decide between traditional or modern? Transitional design is a chic interior approach that combines old and new. This aesthetic is the perfect balance of clean lines, soft curves, warm colors, well-edited accessories and architectural lighting fixtures. It can bring together furnishings and accessories of styles including art deco, modernism and traditional, with a hint of eclectic global influences. Many transitional-focused designers will use vintage or antique accents throughout their spaces, too. Transitional design doesn’t necessarily reflect a certain time; it is ever-changing while maintaining a focus on clean, neutral and beautiful spaces.
“The ability to ‘unfuss’ a room is what initially drew me into the transitional design style,” says Shannon McGough, managing partner of Poppy McGough Design House. “Moving from my vast experience in high-end hospitality design, which could range from Vegas hotels to beach resorts, into the residential market, I found homeowners need a designer who knows how to calm down a space and reign in their ideas.”
She designs with iron, wood, natural stone, crystal, luxurious fabric and art. “I like to begin my projects with a collection of neutral grounding materials to begin the palette, such as a mainstay natural stone that could be used in multiple patterns, a luxurious wood flooring choice, a mix of metal options, and some fantastic lighting inspiration paired with a palette of neutral-toned linens and a few pops of green,” McGough explains. “I love playing with darker wallpapers, stained wood accents and decorative lighting. My upholstery is often neutral to remain timeless, and I prefer larger pieces with clean lines. I like to design a space so my clients have extensive room to explore their individual art preferences.”
In his designs, Philip Vanderford of Studio Thomas James explores a restrained approach that leans contemporary in some elements. “We seek an environment that is open and unburdened, avoiding the chaos of excessive layering,” says Vanderford. “This evolution mirrors our collective desire for a space that resonates with simplicity and sophistication. I believe we thrive as a whole when we are not bombarded by clutter.”
Vanderford’s rooms are often anchored by a bold use of color, as well as furniture with unique silhouettes. “I often favor curvilinear forms that enhance a flow of a room,” he says. And art always serves as his narrative tool. “Artwork contributes to a distinctive story,” he says.
Transitional styles have often been about finding the balance between modern and traditional, with a hint of restraint. But the style is always evolving. “For several years, we had a lot of requests for modern, but we worked with the clients to create something that still felt warm and comfortable, which led to a more contemporary finish,” says Christina Garcia Lysaught with Layered Dimensions Interior Design. “Recently, we have seen a significant shift towards traditional style, which has been fun. We have found a way to blend traditional elements to make them more tailored and streamlined for a clean, more up-to-date look.”
